#42 One Last Time

. She was fired from her job, they said she was too dragged out looking, and her doctor said she had heart problems, even at her age, so she never got up at all. Hildi fed the animals, cooked for her, and came twice a day now. She fed her twice a day, with the animals, she never had to ask, and it never cost her a thing. Hildi just cooked for two; she was already used to it. China ate what Hildi ate, and she never complained. She was lucky to have a friend like Hildi. She became her source of news. She started visiting her in her bed, chattering on about how everybody was pitching in to help with the garden. China loved hearing about the garden; Hildi talked about it all the time, and kept her updated. Somebody new had moved into the apartment where the guy had hung himself. Hildi even brought her out to the garden on nice days.

China finally had a heart attack. The hospital confirmed it. Hildi found her, then called emergency services. She just looked like she was sleeping but her pulse was barely discernible. The hospital said that her organs were shutting down, and transferred her to a room she could die in. The people from the building gathered around her, and watched her sleep. They wanted to see her one last time, but Hildi was still her faithful caregiver. China didn’t have children or a husband, so the hospital put Hildi down as Next of Kin. Hildi continued to visit loyally twice a day. China refused food, except the soup that Hildi brought, took her medication that the hospital prescribed, and continued to sleep all day. When she worried aloud about Guildo and Ginger, Hildi just kept telling her not to worry about a thing, she would look after it all. Liz sent funny cards, Jeremy and Thad sent flowers and a loving card signed by both, and Liz and Al sent flowers too. Hildi lined everything up, took a picture, then sent it to Al. Al was Chinas Power of Attorney, but he relied on Hildi’s proximity, which was within walking distance of the hospital. He called her every night to get her report on Chinas health, but that wasn’t good enough, and even though they used Hildis phone, because he lived too far away, so Hildi got a lawyer, and who would come right to the hospital.

The lawyer and his secretary had a thick accent, but China was used to that from Hildi, so they changed it to Hildi for 30 days. That way, Hildi could make sure the rent was paid, and everything was ok inside the apartment. When the flowers died, Hildi brought the containers home, bought foam and silk flowers, and brought them back arranged and permanent. She took pictures of Guido and Ginger, framed them, and brought the pictures with other things to keep Chinas spirits high. She fussed with the cards, joining China, in spreading them out further on the window ledge, to make her look more important. She helped China any way she could. China was lucky to have her as a friend.

China started to get better. She started eating the hospital food why not; it was free. Because she was rallying, Hildi thought it best to tell her something. The landlord got rid of her animals. Guido and Ginger were gone. Then when she started to get even more fight in her, so Hildi thought it best to tell her the rest. The landlord took all her furniture too; emptied the place, and rented it to somebody else. They thought she was going to die, so now she was homeless. Hildi agreed, they didn’t have a right, so Hildi helped her get the lawyer back and used her phone to let the oldest brother know about the homelessness. He affirmed her thoughts on the matter, but was glad she was getting better, and invited Hildi to come with China for the next visit.

The lawyer couldn’t come for a month. The hospital recommended she call the cops, so she did. The cops found out, not only was it all Hildi who took everything, but she had drained her bank account too. So now, was she not only homeless, but she had nothingas well The hospital was mad, and they took her off as Next-of-kin. The cops waited for her to tell them when to arrest Hildi. They wanted to build a case first, and